TOMMY Mooney wants Walsall FC to become a team that League One rivals are 'wary of'.

TOMMY Mooney wants Walsall to become a team that League One rivals are 'wary of'.

And the experienced striker believes the Saddlers are well on the way to achieving that goal after proving this season that they can stand up to, and deal with, whatever is hurled their way.

Mooney is in line for a return to the fray at Bristol Rovers tomorrow after being sidelined recently by a hamstring injury.

And he is champing at the bit to resume his role of captain of League One's surprise package.

Walsall are sixth in League One - and have a burgeoning reputation among their rival clubs at that level.

"There are teams who, when you go to their grounds as a player, you are wary of what they can do," Mooney said.

"If we can make people wary of us, that's the ideal scenario.

"As you continue to play well and pick up results and a good run gets longer, the banana skin always gets bigger.

"But we have well and truly shown what we can do now, including against the top teams in the division. The Leeds bandwagon came to town and we dealt with that very well.

"We played some good football in what could easily have become a pub-team game because, although Leeds have done exceptionally well, they are the most direct side in the division.

"They are very good at being direct but but we dealt with that. Our back five were fantastic and our midfielders got the ball down and played.

"Forest came along and were a different proposition. They played football in the right way but we dealt with them too and beat them.

"We have also beaten Hartle-pool and Doncaster away and picked up other points that should make everybody wary of us."

Opposing coaches and managers are most wary, perhaps, of the likes of Scott Dann, Mark Bradley, Alex Nicholls and Troy Deeney; the Saddlers' young guns who are excelling all before reaching their 21st birthday.

"These lads have played in some big games this season," Mooney said.

"But they can go on and play in hundreds of big games of they want to."